iceman
Iceman (noun) means someone who delivers or sells block ice, especially from the days before home refrigerators. Example: “The iceman used to come round twice a week before everyone had a fridge.”
noun
1
Someone who delivers or sells block ice, especially from the days before home refrigerators.
"The iceman used to come round twice a week before everyone had a fridge."
"Her grandfather worked as an iceman in the 1930s."
2
Informal: someone who stays completely calm and unemotional under pressure, especially a hired killer in fiction.
"The negotiator was a real iceman, never raising his voice even in a crisis."
"In the film, the hitman is nicknamed "the Iceman" for his cold efficiency."
How to use iceman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a person who used to deliver ice for iceboxes, or (more commonly today) someone who's unnervingly calm under pressure.
Common pairings
cool as an iceman
the iceman cometh
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Word forms
- Plural
- icemen
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The _____ used to come round twice a week before everyone had a fridge.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "ice" and "man" — someone whose job or personality centres on ice, literal or figurative.
Synonyms
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hatchet man
Related words
Rhymes for iceman
See all rhymes for iceman →Frequently asked questions
What does “iceman” mean?
The word “iceman” means someone who delivers or sells block ice, especially from the days before home refrigerators. In plain terms, either a person who used to deliver ice for iceboxes, or (more commonly today) someone who's unnervingly calm under pressure.
How do you use “iceman” in a sentence?
Here is “iceman” used in a sentence: “The iceman used to come round twice a week before everyone had a fridge.”
What part of speech is “iceman”?
“Iceman” is a noun.
How many meanings does “iceman” have?
“Iceman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who delivers or sells block ice, especially from the days before home refrigerators.
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